'Surreal': WWII veteran’s postcard finally delivered 77 years later

A letter penned by a World War II veteran has been delivered to his family more than 77 years later.

Bill Caldwell was 18 years old when he joined England's Royal Navy. During his first week of training he wrote a postcard to his family back home.

The note was addressed to Mr Caldwell's "Uncle Fred" and was postmarked 1943 with a stamp saying: "Post early in the day."

However, the postcard was not delivered to his childhood home, where some of his relatives still live, until February 2021.

Uncle Fred has since died as did Mr Caldwell 25 years ago. Fred's daughter Joanna Creamer said reading the 77-year-old postcard was "surreal".

"Well I am in blue at last. I did not think it would be like this – you don't get much time for yourself, do you?" the postcard said, according to the BBC.

"But I like it alright.

"I will write a letter to you all when I get half a chance so will you hold on a bit? I have 19 weeks here yet.

"Give my love to everyone. Love, Bill."

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Mr Caldwell's daughter Elizabeth told the Daily Mail the story was "crazy" and understood it was "hard to believe".

She said her father loved to tell stories, though he would never write.

"To actually see his handwriting was beautiful," she said.

A spokesperson for the Royal Mail told the BBC it was likely someone put the aged postcard back into the postal system recently.

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